Current revision

Varsity Scout Program has been discontinued.In May 2017, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS church, or Mormons) announced that in 2018 they would no longer be sponsoring Varsity Teams. Since the LDS church created the Varsity program in 1984 and were basically the only group using it, Varsity has since been discontinued. Medals/awards/patches will continue to be available to earn until they are no longer available in a local or national Scout shop. (See Discontinued awards.)

Varsity emblem.

Varsity Scout strip. Worn over the right pocket, centered above the BSA strip or above the interpreter strip and below the BSA nameplate.

Contents

Organization

Varsity Scouts are members of a Varsity Scout Team chartered to a community organization, such as a church or service club. It is led by a youth Varsity Scout team Captain and an adult leader called a Varsity Team Coach. The coach is supported by an adult Team Committee, made up of parents and members of the chartered organization. It is a stand-alone unit, chartered independently of a Scout troop, but the chartering procedure is essentially the same.

Program

Varsity Scouting has five fields of emphasis. A youth member, called a Program Manager, is responsible for each of the five fields of emphasis and works with an adult member called a Program Adviser from the team committee to coordinate each phase of the program. The five fields of emphasis are:

The emphasis is on service, with the intent that it become integral to one's daily experience. Projects are conceived, planned, managed, and carried out by individual Varsity Scouts and/or the Varsity Scout team.

Program Specialization

Varsity Scouting allows a charter organization to design a program that fits its own needs. Many community organizations use Varsity Scouting as part of their youth program, including the United Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Lutheran Church, public schools, and housing authorities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has customized the program to fulfill its needs. Although the program is designed for young men ages 14 to 18, the LDS Church uses Varsity Scouting only for its young men ages 14 to 15. There is still a tremendous opportunity to expand Varsity Scouting within the LDS Church. All LDS wards should have a Varsity Scout team as part of their youth program.

Leadership and program

Varsity Scouting offers five program fields of emphasis: Advancement, High-Adventure/Sports, Personal
development, Service, and Special Programs and Events. Each of these programs is led by a member of the team called a Program Manager, who receives assistance from a member of the Team Committee.

Advancement and recognition

The Varsity Scout advancement follows the same rank requirements to Eagle and Eagle Palms as those for Boy Scouts. Supplementing this Eagle trail, a Varsity Scout is also eligible for the additional advancement opportunity of earning the Denali Award. To do this he must earn at least one Varsity Letter, and serve as Program Manager (a position of responsibility), acting as primary leader in at least two of the fields of emphasis and participating in the remaining three fields.

Varsity Letter

The Varsity Scout letter V-emblem is awarded to team members who participate high-adventure or sports program features and are preceded by training or practice sessions. Activities are planned by the youth high-adventure/sports program manager; participation may also result in the team member receiving a Varsity Scout activity pin for the V-emblem. Varsity Scout letter bar pins are awarded for subsequently completed high-adventure or sports program features.

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— 2000 Varsity Scout Guidebook (34827A)

Denali Award

The Denali Award is the highest award in Varsity Scouting. Varsity Scouts must earn at least one Varsity Letter, and serve as program manager (a position of responsibility), acting as primary leader in at least two of the fields of emphasis and participating in the remaining three fields.

Each program feature contains resource materials that will prepare a team for an ultimate adventure or sports season. The high-adventure areas are backpacking, canoe camping, caving, cycling, discover America, fishing, freestyle biking, frontiersman, mechanics, orienteering, rock climbing and rappelling, snow camping, survival, and whitewater canoeing. Each feature contains approximately three months of program.